Retaining-clamp for electric conduits.



Wl F. HYATT & W. C. STRINGER.

RETAINING CLAMP FOR ELECTRIC CONDUITS.

APPLICATloN F11ED111NE14,1911.

LQSSBQ, Patented Deo. 24, 1918.

@www ff; A T'IURM 1. an sa? WILLIAM Plien HYATT AND wILLrscAMPBELL Sramana, or SACRAMENTO, Y CALIFORNIA.

BEGINNING-CLAMP FOR ELECTRIC CODUITS.

Specication of Letters Patent. I Patented D96. 2d, i918.

` application-mea June 1a, 1917. serial no. 174,721.

To all'whom t may concern:

Be it known vthat we, VVI'LLIAivry PAGE HYATT and VVILLIs CAMPBELL STRINGER, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento, State of lCalifornia, have invented certain new:

and useful Improvements in Retaining- Clamps for Electric Conduite; and we do declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.;

This invention relates to improvements 1n clamps for fixing and retaining electric conduits in switch boxes or other similar places. By our improved invention we aim to produce a clamp acting as a lever whereby if the cable draws in either direction the lclamp engages it and prevents its being moved relative to the receptacle. ln addition to this the clamp effectively closes the openings in the receptacle and thereby confines any fire or spark which may originate in the receptacle. Our improved clamp is likewise designed to require a minimum space within the receptacle and be easily and quickly installed or removed.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

rlhese objects we accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure l is a side elevation of a receptacle partly broken out and in section to show 'the position of our improved clamp when it is engaged with the conduit.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the clamp in position within the. receptacle as it appears from the outside of the receptacle.

Fig. .3 is a perspective view of the clamp.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of clamp from that shown in Fig. 3. A

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings the numeral 1 designates the receptacle, 2 the conduit opening therein and 3 the electrical conduit which projects through the opening 2. Our improved clamp comprises a bifurthe clamp to pivot like a lever.

cated plate 4 having a tongue 5 thereon prol jecting at'a substantially acute angle from the plate 4 -and provided with notches 6 intermediate such tongue 5 and plate Ll. The space 7 between the bifurcations of the plate 4 is of a slightly less width than the diameter of the conduit 3 and terminates at itsl upper end in a semi-circular portion 8 of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the conduit 3. ln practice when the conduit 3 is passed through the opening 2 and it is desired to iX the same stationary therein the. tongue 5 is projected through the opening 2 and the bifurcated plate 1 is pressed over the conduit 3. When the clamp f is being pressed through the opening 2 there 1s of course a slight resiliency'to the conduit 3 and also the tongue 5 may be slightly resilient whereby that portion of the tongue 5 adjacent the notches 6 may be forced through the opening 2 at a point where the diameter of the opening is wider than the ycurved portion 8 is slightly less than the corresponding diameter of the conduit 3 this causes the plate 4 to pinch against the conduit on'the inside of the receptacle and the tongue 5 frictionally engages ,the Same on the outside of the receptacle l. The engagement of the notches 6 with the edges of the opening 2 forms a fulcrum which causes Thus if the conduit 3 is pulled from the inside the clamp pivots and the tongue-v5 frictionally engages the conduit andprevents its being moved. If the conduit 3 is pulled from the outside the reverse operation takes place and the bifurcated plate 4 ybecomes more strongly frictionally engaged with the conduit andV prevents movement in that direction.

In Fig. we have a modifiedk form of clamp. ln this form 4a designates the bifurcated plate and 5a the tongue. lnstead of the notches 6 however, we provide a rib 6a which when the clamp is positioned impinges against the side of the casin l adjacent the hole 2 and forms the ulcrum point`necessary to the successful operation of the device.

In addition to forming the fulcrum point of the clamp the notches 6 or the'tongue 6 likewise prevent the clamp from becoming loose'from-the receptacle or cable excepting when it is desired to remove the same.v

From the foregoing description it Will be readily seen that we have device as substantially ful ls the object of the invention as set forth herein. i

While this specification sets forth in de- .tail the present and preferred construction of the Vdevice and of the modification thereof, as described, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention What we claim as new and'useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A clamp for electrical conduits consisting of a bifurcated plate arranged to be frictionally engaged w1th the sides of the conduit transversely With respect to its axis, and a tongue extending at an angle to the plate and adapted to frictionally engage the conduit longitudinally thereof.

-roduced such .a

2. A clamp for electrical conduits comprising a bi urcated plate arranged to be frictionally engaged with the sides of the conduit transversely with respect `to its axis,

plate and adapted to frictionally engage the conduit longitudinally thereof, and means arranged on the tongue adjacent the plate whereby the clamp may be fulcrunied against the sides of an orifice in a holder through which the conduit may be projected.

In testimony whereof, We aflix our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

. WILLIAM PAGE HYATT.

WILLIS CAMPBELL STRINGER.

Witnesses.:

CHAs. S. KING, ROY W. BLAIR. 

